ire

hed whispers. Tonight, Cade Dyer and Alessandra Guerra were celebrating their engagement. The air was thick with the s

handsome and radiating false charm, was expertly playing the part of the devoted fiancé. He smiled at Alessandra, a smile that once b

m, where I was supposed to be kept. A flicker of uneasiness crossed his face before he recomposed himself, his smile wi

oncern. "Miss Madden, Mr. Dyer asked me to bring you some refreshments. And perhaps a sed... some calming tea." Her w

gaze drifted to a small, ornate key on her belt loop. It was the key to the main family wing, the only way

're here. My sweet Blaire, please come out. We need to talk." His voice was honeyed, dripping with a false tenderness that

xture of fear and confusion. "Mr. D

oved swiftly, plucking the key from her belt. Her gasp of surprise

eed locked. My fingers fumbled with the key, my heart hammering against my ribs, a thrilling drumbeat of antic

he music faltered. Cade, who had been halfway across the ballroom, froze, his

" another guest whispered. The whispers spread like wildfire, fuele

nic. "Blaire, what are you doing? You shouldn't be here!" He tried t

s newly recognized father, a man whose stern features now looked thundero

into Cade' s arms, her eyes brimming with feigned tears. "Oh, Cade! She attacked me just

ss. He tightened his arm around Alessandra, a silent endorsement of her lies. My heart, al

rough the stunned silence. "Tell them the truth. Tell

ce barely audible. He turned to his father, a veneer of regret settling on his features. "Fa

nny I spent, every moment I sacrificed, 'unwell'?" I tried to step forward, to confront

r. boomed, his patience clearly at

im, but a problem to be solved. And he chose the cruelest solution. "Take her away," he ordere

ed with Cade' s. There was no remorse, no regret, just a chilling emptiness. My

lroom, a new voice, low and menacin

, his eyes searching. Then, another set of guards, taller, broader, their fa

otocol in the guest list." He gestured towards me. "This young lady, as per the rules you yourself established for a

at Cade, then at me. "Is this true, Ca

Father, she's... she's not. I mean

t pass a background check. And any individual residing on the estate, especially one who claims a long-term relationship, must be formally introduced." He p

ont. He glanced at Cade, a chilling contempt in his eyes. "Cade," he said, his voice dangerously low. "You will re

ornamental fountain in the center of the ballroom, its waters sparkling under the lights. His eyes, once full of a

n his grip tightened, not gently, but with a surprising force that sent a jolt of pain through my arm. "You wa

tality. Alessandra watched, a cruel smile playing on her lips. I struggled, but the security

dragging me down. I thrashed, desperate to surface, but my body felt sluggish, weighted down by the fabric, by the pain, by the sheer horror of h